Fisher

An assessment of population growth drivers in Fisher reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Fisher's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 3,344 people. This figure represents an increase of 125 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,219 people. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,334 in June 2025 and an additional 11 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,116 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Fisher's growth rate of 3.9% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area's growth rate of 1.9%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 72.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, also using 2022 as a base. Population projections indicate a decline in overall population over the period to 2041, with Fisher's population expected to decrease by 6 persons. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 60 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Fisher according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Fisher has seen approximately 5 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 28 homes. So far in FY-26, 2 approvals have been recorded. On average, each home built between FY-21 and FY-25 has accommodated around 7.1 new residents per year, indicating a significant supply-demand imbalance that contributes to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $245,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Fisher has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it among the 17th percentile nationally, suggesting limited buyer options while demand for established homes strengthens. This lower activity reflects a mature market and potential development constraints. Recent construction consists of 60.0% detached dwellings and 40.0% attached dwellings, with an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options. This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for diverse, affordable housing options.

Fisher has around 1929 people per dwelling approval, reflecting a highly mature market. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Fisher should see reduced pressure on housing in the future, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Fisher has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

No infrastructure changes or major projects were identified by AreaSearch that would significantly impact the area. Notable projects include Athlon Drive Duplication, The Hunter, Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children Expansion Project.

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Employment performance in Fisher has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Fisher has an educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors, an unemployment rate of 4.8%, and stable employment over the past year as of December 2025. At this time, 1,664 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.0% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Fisher stands at 66.8%, compared to the ACT's 70.5%.

According to Census responses, only 12.9% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety (24.5%), health care & social assistance (21.3%), and education & training (16.7%). Retail trade has limited presence with 4.9% employment compared to the regional average of 6.6%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population versus resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Fisher's labour force increased by 1.1%, while employment decreased by 0.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, the ACT saw employment grow by 0.9% and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase in employment over five years and a 13.7% increase over ten years. Applying these projections to Fisher's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The Fisher SA2 had one of the highest income levels in Australia according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $70,595 and the average income stood at $82,196. These figures compared to those for Australian Capital Territory which were $72,206 (median) and $85,981 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $77,965 (median) and $90,777 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data showed household, family and personal incomes all ranked highly in Fisher, between the 82nd and 91st percentiles nationally. Income analysis revealed that 25.9% of the population (866 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen in the region where 34.3% similarly occupied this range. The locality demonstrated considerable affluence with 39.1% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retained 86.8% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Fisher is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Fisher's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 82.8% houses and 17.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Australian Capital Territory's 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fisher was at 39.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (40.0%) or rented (20.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Fisher was $2,354, higher than Australian Capital Territory's average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure for Fisher was recorded at $415, compared to Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Fisher's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Fisher has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 70.5% of all households, including 34.4% couples with children, 25.1% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 27.6% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Australian Capital Territory average.

Fisher shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Fisher, residents aged 15+ with university qualifications significantly outnumber the national average, at 43.3% compared to Australia's 30.4%. This notable educational advantage reflects well on the area for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.0% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 12.2% and certificates for 14.8%.

Educational participation is high in Fisher, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.4% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 4.5% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Fisher has 15 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 59 different routes that collectively facilitate 3,676 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 197 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Fisher being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 89% of residents, while only 6% use buses. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 12.9% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 525 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 245 weekly trips per individual stop.

Fisher's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data for Fisher residents shows mostly positive results. Mortality rates and health conditions are largely similar to national averages, with common health conditions relatively uncommon among the general population but higher among older, at-risk groups.

Private health cover is exceptionally high, at approximately 60% of the total population (2,003 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.0% and 8.5% of residents respectively. 67.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among working-age residents are generally typical. Fisher has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (651 people), higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. While health outcomes for seniors present some challenges, they rank lower nationally than those of the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Fisher was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Fisher's population shows cultural diversity with 23.3% born overseas and 16.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 45.1%. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%, comprising 2.8% in Fisher.

The top three ancestry groups are English (25.9%), Australian (24.9%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, Hungarian (0.5%) and French (0.8%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively, while Croatian is slightly overrepresented at 1.0%.

Fisher's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Fisher is 40 years, which exceeds both the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 and the national median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Fisher has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (8.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.7%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 9.4% to 11.5%, while the 65-74 age group has declined from 8.9% to 7.4%. The 35-44 age group has also decreased slightly from 14.8% to 13.8%. By 2041, Fisher's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 43%, reaching 163 from 113. This growth will be led by the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising 63% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 75-84 and 45-54 age cohorts.